Vol. 501 No. 5
73 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Finance the plans, if any, he has to reconsider the criteria used to assess people under the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Persons (Tax Concessions) Regulations, 1994, in view of the fact that many applicants who are genuinely disabled are ineligible to qualify for a tax rebate under these regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6486/99]
76 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Finance if he has completed his review of the disabled drivers and passengers tax concession scheme; if he will introduce amendments to extend the qualifying criteria under the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers (Tax Concessions) Regulations, 1994, to include drivers and passengers with other specific disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6557/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 76 together.
As I said in reply to Question No. 209 on 2 March 1999, a review of the scheme is being undertaken by an interdepartmental group under the chairmanship of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform with a view to determining what modifications, if any, might be proposed to the scheme. The existing medical criteria for qualification may be among the items examined by the group. While the review has not yet been completed, I should caution against raising expectations that any person who suffers from some form of disability will be admitted to the scheme following the completion of this examination. As was pointed out in the reply to the adjournment debate held on 2 March 1999, which sought extension to one particular category, large groups or categories have sought to be included in the scheme.
The Revenue Commissioners have carried out a wide ranging technical review of the operation of the scheme and their report is awaited. However, this review is much narrower in scope in that it addressees problems with the present scheme and makes recommendations on how to make it operate in a more effective and cost-efficient manner for its present target group.
